Return bend fittings



Jan.'8, 1935. KEY 1,987,300

RETURN BEND FITTINGS Filed Oct. 26, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l kn. 8, 1935. 5 KEY 1,987,300 I RETURN BEND FITTINGS Filed Oct. 26, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTaeA/xfY.

Patented Jan. 8, 1935 UNITED STATES RETURN BEND rrrrmcs Frederick E. Key, East StQLouis, 111., assignor to Key Boiler Equipment 00., East St. Louis, III.', a corporation of Missouri Application October 26,

17 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in return bend housings, and has among its objects the production of such return bend housings which shall be simple, sturdy, easily handled, and emcient and satisfactory for use wherever found applicable.

One of the main objects of my invention is to provide a housing of the kind described, particularly intended to be used as a return-bend housing, and which shall comprise separable pipereceiving parts or sections so joined that a certain amount of displacement therebetween may occur in a longitudinal direction, but can not occur in a lateral direction or twist.

Another object of my invention is to provide a tie piece adapted to co-operate with said returnbend housing, said tie member being applicable upon the pair of pipes prior to the securement of the return-bend housing to the latter, and acting to maintain the pipes a-flxed or predetermined distance apart.

Other objects and advantages of the construction herein shown and described will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains, from the disclosures herein given.

To this end, my invention consistsin the novel construction, arrangement, and combination of parts herein shown and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts throughout:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectionalview, showing the connection as applied to a pair of p p s;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view, similar to that shown in Fig. 1,' but taken at right angles thereto;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; and

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view, taken substantially along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

In the drawings, wherein I have illustrated the preferred embodiment of my invention, 1 and 2 illustrate a pair of conduits or pipes of any desired size or cross-sectional shape, and entering or communicating within any suitable device or mechanism, such as a boiler, oil and similar stills, etc., said device having the header element 3 with the desired number of pipe or tube apertures 4 spaced thereon. The pipes or tubes generally extend through the openings 4 with some clearance, somewhat as shown.

The return-bend fittings connected to the ends of the pipes may become warped during their 1928, Serial No; 315,274

manufacture, or for other causes may have their pipe-receiving openings inaccurately spaced, and I have, therefore, so constructed my improved fitting as to avoid these defects and maintain the pipes in their desired relation to one another. 5

The pipe connection of my invention is made of a plurality of parts or sections so connected to one another as to positively prevent any. relative twisting therebetween, but permit of a certain degree of longitudinal displacement therebetween. 10

A pair of mating parts or sections 5-5 are each provided with a pipe-receiving opening or bore therethrough, the ends of the pipes or conduits being preferably expanded or otherwise enlarged into place within the bores in the parts 5-5, to 15 thereby prevent accidental displacement therebetween.

Each of the mating sections is extended or projected longitudinally, in the direction of the bore, as at 6, the outer end of this extension 0 being provided with a flange or inturned shoulder 7, adapted to co-operate with a tightener yoke plate 8 as will be hereinafter set forth.

A hollow, arcuate element 9 co-operates with the mating parts 5-5 and may be termed the 25 return-bend partproper, one end of said part fitting into the pipe-receiving bore of one of the parts 5 and the other end fitting into theother 'of the pair of mating parts 5, so as to thereby straddle these two members. As clearly shown, 30 the return bend 9 has tapered ends telescoping in tapered sockets in the housing sections 5 outwardly beyond the ends of the tubes 1 and 2, respectively.

A set screw 10 is threaded through each of the 35 yoke plates 8, the lower end of each set screw rotatably bearing upon and engaging against an enlarged or thickened portion of the return bend element 9, so that when the set screws are tightened, the ends of said return bend element 9 will 40 be pressed and held tightly in position within the bores or sockets provided therefor in the mating sections. v

The mating members 5-5 are adapted to be 45 slidably interlocked with one another to permit of a slight amount of longitudinal movement 'of one relatively to the other, but no twisting move ment relatively therebetween. To effect this result, the adjoining sides of each of said members 50 are provided with spaced overlapping webs extending longitudinally of the members as shown.

The webs are indicated at 11, and the grooves or slots adjacent thereto are indicated at 12, it being understood, of course, that the webs of one '55 member are adapted to overlap the webs of the other member.

One tongue of each member, preferably that web most closely adjacent the center, is extended beyond the adjacent web to form the projection 13, these projections provided with a longitudinally elongated bolt-receiving opening 14 therethrough, and through which openings a bolt 15 may be loosely inserted for holding the mating sections in their interlocked, adjusted position.

The bolt, positioned as above described. is quite easily accessible and may be manipulated thereat by any suitable tool whenever the occasion requires.

In order to make certain that the pair of pipes are spaced apart the proper distance before installing the return-fitting connection thereon, and that the pipes are parallel adjacent their ends, I have provided an auxiliary member 16. This member is provided with a pair of pipe-receiving openings 11-1'1 therethrough, spaced apart the desired distance, said member acting as a tie means to not only hold the pipes the .cor-

'rect distance apart prior to and during the installation of the fitting sections, but to thereafter assist the fitting in keeping the pipes in their desired relationship.

The ends of pipe extending beyond the header member are first positioned through the openings of the tie member, and then the mating sections 5-5 are positioned to receive the pipe ends, these ends being thereafter expanded into interlocking engagement with these sections to form a fixed connection therewith. The arcuate member 9 is then put in place and clamped down by proper manipulation of the set screws. A slight amount of longitudinal displacement of one of the mating sections relatively to the other will be taken care of by the mortise and tenon connection, controlled by the adjusting bolt 15, but no twisting of -the mating sections relatively of one another can occur.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention: hence I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described, or uses mentioned, except as limited by the claims.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A return-bend housing comprising a pair of mating parts, each adapted to receive one of the pipe ends therein, and a plurality of longitudinally extending tongues and grooves therebetween ior adjustably securing them together to permit longitudinal movement but prevent twisting therebetween.

2. A return-bend housing including two mating members adapted to interlock slidably with each other, each of said members having a bore therein toreceive the end of a pipe, each of said members provided with a longitudinally extending tongue and groove slidable and separable interconnection therebetween at said adjolned portions thereof.-

3. A housing of the End described, comprising a pair of identical mating members each adapted to receive the end of a pipe therein, and each of said members having tongues and grooves extending longitudinally along adjacent sides, the tongues of one member being slidably received within the grooves of the other member.

4. A return-bend housing comprising a pair of mating elements each adapted to receive an end of pipe therein, and each of said elements having an adjacent tongue and a groove extending longitudinally thereof, the tongue of one element being adapted to be slidably received within the groove of the other element, and each of said tongues being longitudinally extended beyond its adjacent groove and provided with an elongated bolt-receiving aperture therethrough.

5. A housing of the kind described, comprising a pair of mating members, each having a pipereceiving bore therethrough, an arcuate conduit member having its ends fitted into said bores so as to connect said pairs of members, each of said pair of members provided with a tongue and a groove adjacent each-other extending longitudinally thereof at the inner side, the tongue of one member being adapted to slidably enter the groove of the other member, each of said tongues being extended upward to a point adjacent said arcuate member, said projections provided with elongated bolt-receiving apertures therethrough, and a bolt passing throughsaid openings for limiting the sliding movement of said members.

6. In a device of the kind described and in combination, a return-bend housing comprising a pair of sections each adapted to receive the'end of a pipe, the adjacent lower ends of said sections being adapted to slidably fit together so as to prevent relative twisting and lateral movement but permit relative longitudinal and spreading movement therebetween.

7. In a device of the kind described and in combination, a housing comprising a pair of members each adapted to receive the end of a pipe therein, a U-shaped return-bend element having its ends insertable into said members adjacent to and communicating with said pipes, means for retaining said element in position, and means for interlocking said pair of members to prevent relative twist and lateral movement therebetween while permitting relative limited longitudinal and separating displacement therebetween, said means comprising spaced tongue.

and groove on each of said pair of members, the tongue of one member being adapted to slidably enter the groove of the other member.

8. In a device of the kind described, a housing comprising a pair of identical pipe-receiving said mortises for limiting the sliding movement of said members. H

9. The combination with a return bend, of a sectional housing comprising continuous annular portions, each of which engages one .of a pair of tubes, side walls on said annular portions,

detachable means mounted therein, means" mounted in said means which engage said return bend, webs on the sides of each of the sections which abut and means to connect said webs together.

10. The combination with a return bend, of a sectional housing, comprising annular portions, each of which engages one of a pair of tubes, segmental side walls on said annular portions,

detachable means mounted'in said side walls which engage said return bend. laterally extending webs on the sides of each of the sections, said webs having verticallyslotted apertures and being disposed in overlapping relation and means to secure said webs together.

11. The combination with a return bend, of a fitting therefor comprising a pair of housing sections each having a continuous annular portion to engage one of a pair of tubes, detachable means mounted in each of said sections to engage with said return bend, laterally extending overlapping webs on said sections, and having longitudinally elongated apertures therethrough, and means extending through said apertures for connecting said webs together and leaving said sections free for limited relative longitudinal movement.

12. The combination with a return bend, of a fitting therefor comprising a pair of mating housing sections each having a continuous annular portion to receive and engage one of a pair of tubes and telescoping on the ends of said bend, detachable means mounted in each of said sections to engage said return bend, laterally extending webs on the sides of said sections and having longitudinally elongated openings therethrough, and means extending through said openings for connecting said webs together to permit relative longitudinal adjustment of said sections.

13. The combination with a return bend, of a fitting therefor comprising a pair of housing sections each having a continuous annular portion to engage one of a pair of tubes and telescoping on the ends of said bend, detachable means mounted in each of said sections to engage said return bend and clamp the latter in place in said annular portions, and laterally extending detachablyjnterlocking means at the opposed sides of said sections for connecting said sections together and leaving said sections relatively movable longitudinally.

14. The combination with a return bend, of

a fitting therefor comprising a plurality of housing sections each engaging one of a plurality of tubes, detachable means mounted on said sections to engage said return bend, webs-extending from the sides of said sections, and means for holding said webs together to permit longitudinal adjustment of said sections relatively to one another.

15. The combination with a return bend, of a fitting therefor comprising a plurality of sections each engaging one of a plurality of tubes, detachable means mounted in said sections to engage said return bend and clamp the latter in place in said sections. and means at the opposed sides of said sections for holding said sections together and permitting longitudinal adjustment between said sections.

16. The combination with a return bend adapted to connect a plurality of tubes each having a shoulder, of a fitting therefor comprising housing sections adapted to engage the shoulders on the tubes. detachable means mounted in said sections to engage said return bend, and means for holding the tubes in ali nment.

17. The combination with a return bend having tapered ends, of a fitting therefor comprising a pair of housing sections each having a continuous annular portion adapted to engage and to extend outwardly beyond one of a pair of tubes and having a tapered socket in its outer end, and said sockets telescoping on the tapered ends of said bend outwardly beyond the ends of the tubes, detachable yokes mounted in said sections beyond said bend, screws passing through said yokes and abutting against said bend, laterally extendingwebs on the sides of said sections and having interengaging connection, and means connecting said webs together and leaving said sections free for limited relative longitudinal movement.

FREDERICK E. KEY.

DISCLAIMER 1,987,300.-'Fredericlc E. Key, East St. Louis, IlL- RETURN BEND Frr'rmcs. Patent dated January 8, 1935. Disclaimer filed July 15, 1936, by the assignee, Key Company. Hereb enters this disclaimer to claim 16 of said patent. Gazette August 25, 1986'] 

